Dennis Bonn Named Nation's Top Coach

Dennis Bonn, left, coach for the Cold Spring Harbor boys varsity lacrosse team, was recently recognized with the National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association 2017 Coach of the Year Award. Pictured right is Joe Baccarella, of the NILCA. Photo/Cold Spring Harbor School District

By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com

A Cold Spring Harbor lacrosse coach has been recognized as the 2017 Coach of the Year for his efforts to lead the Seahawks to their unprecedented third-straight New York State championship.

Dennis Bonn, head coach of the Seahawks squad, was recognized during the IMLCA Convention in December by the National Interscholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association.

Bonn said he was overwhelmed and flattered by the award, which is awarded annually to one high school coach in the country. “It’s not something that I don’t think anybody ever expects.”

Bonn, 51, of Huntington, added. “There are so many fabulous coaches out there, so many fabulous programs so to be singled out is very humbling.”

NILCA President Ren Pettinelli said the association was proud to name Bonn coach of year for his accomplishments to elevate the Seahawk lacrosse program to state and national attention.

The Seahawks went undefeated last season, sporting an overall 21-0 record, and ultimately re-establishing themselves as Class C state champs.

Through the past three seasons, Bonn and the Seahawks are 58-2.

The 2017 state title was Bonn’s fourth as a coach; the Seahawks also claimed the titled in 2006 under his leadership.

Bonn has been teaching math at the high school for 25 years and will be going on his 19th year of coaching the lacrosse team this spring.

His lacrosse coaching career began at Garden City High School in 1991 and continued to 1992, when he served as junior varsity assistant coach. From there, he went to the Cold Spring Harbor, where he was junior varsity head coach for seven years before being appointed head coach of the varsity team in 2000.

Bonn was also assistant coach for the varsity football team for 12 years and then took on the position of head coach for 10 years. He stepped down from coaching football four years ago to spend more time with this family, Bonn said.

Although there have been some tough moments during his time coaching the lacrosse team, including a county final overtime loss to Manhasset in 2004, the good outweighs the bad for Bonn.

But, championships aside, some of his favorite moments have come on the practice field.

“Games are great, but I really, thoroughly enjoy practice and the connection with the players. We instill our beliefs as a coaching staff and preparing each and every day for the next game,” Bonn said. “It’s also great to see how our players move on from CSH to play at the collegiate level.”

Part of being a successful coach is rostering talented players, Bonn said.

“We have a system that we believe in and year in and year out we incorporate that system and the players buy into it and it seems to work well for us,” Bonn said. “We hang our hat on certain things and as long as I’m the head coach at Cold Spring Harbor, we’ll always do that, but first and foremost, we’re blessed to have talented, hard working players year in and year out.”